Bay's redemption...

Rating: 8/10 (22 August 2007)

Do not believe any of the critics and do not be misguided because it's a Michael Bay flick, "The Island" is a very good movie; action-packed, well crafted and good sci-fi.
It's 2019, the population is very small and it seems to be confined into a large facility controlled by scientist Dr. Merrick (Sean Bean). Apparently, the Earth has been contaminated and those who live in this confined, Utopian society are considered fortunate. Everyone except the doctors and guards wear the same clothing, their diets are controlled, their knowledge is minimal and sexual attraction is prohibited. But there is chance for a fresh start. Twice a day there is a lottery, where a selected person wins a trip to The Island, a contaminated-free paradise where a new start on life can happen, helping to rebuild the environment and restore society.
Lincoln Six Echo (Ewan McGregor, just off of "Star Wars Episode III") is curious. He wants to know why society is the way it is. Why is everyday planned out for him. Why is he being controlled. He also suspects that something wrong is amidst. He tells all this information to Dr. Merrick who finds this behavior very interesting, and unfortunate. Of course, things get a little deeper when Lincoln's gorgeous best friend, Jordan Two Delta (Scarlett Johansson), has been selected to go to The Island. After some investigation, Lincoln discovers that there is no Island, only certain death. All who have been picked in the lottery, seem to face some sort of medical treatment followed by death. Lincoln locates Jordan and tells her what he's discovered and after a successful escape from the facility, both 'fugitives' find out that there's nothing wrong with the outside world, and find themselves in the middle an Arizona desert.
Merrick then calls Albert Laurent (Djimon Hounsou), a special enforcement agent, to track down our two heroes. With the help of McCord (Steve Buscemi), an employee of the facility, Lincoln and Jordan realize that they are, as well as the whole society at the facility, clones, created by Dr. Merrick with the intention of adding an additional lifetime to the average human being. When a body part, organ, tissue or such ages or no longer functions on the human body, a replacement is taken from their 'ordered' clone. The clone is then terminated after the operation, but Merrick manipulates the clones to think that they are going to The Island. But the clones are people too, with human feelings and emotion, and Lincoln wants to put an end to Merrick's operation. McCord helps Lincoln and Jordan get to Los Angeles, to search for their sponsors (the original hosts), or any means of help. But Laurent's posse is hot on their tail...and the action commences.
"The Island" is an action-packed thrill ride. It's no doubt that Michael Bay is a great action- director, but he tried too hard to become the next James Cameron with "Armageddon" & "Pearl Harbor," and the "Bad Boys" films are just terrible. This is the Michael Bay that gave us "The Rock," this is Bay's redemption.
Reminiscent of "Logan's Run" and "THX-1138," mixed with Bay's trademark action and visuals, "The Island" is a well-done, solid sci-fi film.